Quick answers
The numbers parents search for most, by age. Each one links to a full guide with the sources behind it.
How many calories does a baby need a day?
About 440–570 at 1–3 months and 720–845 at 10–12 months, per USDA estimates published by NIH.
Read the full guide →What is a good breakfast for a 2-year-old?
The AAP says a sit-down breakfast made up of the four basic food groups is best; yogurt, fruit and oatmeal is an easy start.
See 15 ideas →Can toddlers have protein powder?
That's all a child aged 1 to 3 needs, and food covers it. Protein powder is usually unnecessary, so ask your pediatrician first.
What to do instead →How many meals does a 1-year-old eat a day?
Three small meals and two snacks, about 1,000 calories a day, per the AAP.
See a sample day →Is picky eating normal for a 2-year-old?
The AAP calls it usually a normal developmental stage, and the CDC says it often fades by about age 5.
Read the full guide →Is it normal for a 2-year-old to eat very little?
A toddler's serving is about a quarter of an adult's, and appetite drops after age 1, per the AAP.
Read the full guide →How many meals does a 9-month-old eat?
About 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day, with milk feeds in between, per the CDC.
See a sample day →What should a 2-year-old eat for lunch?
The AAP's sample lunch for a 2-year-old is ½ sandwich with 1 oz of meat or fish and cheese, a little cooked vegetable, ½ cup of fruit and ½ cup of milk.
See 15 lunches →How much juice should a toddler drink a day?
The AAP limits juice to 4 oz a day for toddlers aged 1 to 3, and none for babies under 1. Fruit itself is preferred.
Juice limits by age →When can babies have honey?
Not before the first birthday. The CDC, AAP and NHS all say to wait because honey can cause infant botulism.
Why 12 months, and what to avoid →What should a 5-year-old eat in a day?
Three meals and two snacks built from milk or yogurt, fruit, vegetables, grains and protein, per the AAP.
See the sample menu →How many snacks does a 2-year-old need?
Plus 3 meals, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
See 25 snack ideas →How many calories does a toddler need?
For a 2-year-old, per the American Academy of Pediatrics. A 1-year-old needs about 1,000.
See the guide by age →Does a 2-year-old need vitamins?
The AAP says healthy children eating a balanced diet don't need vitamin supplements — ask your pediatrician if diet is very limited.
Read the full guide →Can a 3-year-old have popcorn?
The AAP lists popcorn as a choking hazard and advises keeping such foods from children until age 4 or older.
Safer crunchy snacks →When can babies have water?
The AAP says to start offering a little water around 6 months, at 4–8 oz (½–1 cup) a day. Before 6 months, only breast milk or formula.
Amounts by age →What should a 2-year-old eat for dinner?
The AAP's sample dinner for a 2-year-old is 2 oz of fish, meat or beans, ⅓ cup of pasta, rice or potato, ⅓ cup of vegetables and ½ cup of milk or yogurt.
See 15 dinners →What can a 6-month-old eat?
Solid foods can begin at about 6 months, starting with smooth, iron-rich foods, per the CDC and AAP.
See first foods →How much water should a child drink a day?
About 4 cups of drinks, milk included, for ages 1 to 3 and 5 cups for ages 4 to 8, per the AAP. Older kids need 7–8 cups.
Cups and ml by age →What are the best meals for 3-year-olds?
Simple plates of protein, grain, fruit or vegetable and milk, in portions about a quarter of an adult's, per the AAP.
See the week of meals →How much iron does a toddler need?
For ages 1 to 3, rising to 10 mg for ages 4 to 8, per the U.S. National Academies.
Read the full guide →How much milk should a toddler drink?
About 2 cups a day from 12 to 24 months, and 16–24 oz from ages 2 to 5, per the AAP.
Milk, water and juice by age →How much protein does a toddler need?
For ages 1 to 3, rising to 19 g for ages 4 to 8, per the U.S. National Academies.
What 13 grams looks like →How many times should I offer a new food?
The CDC says it can take 8 to 10 exposures before a young child accepts a new food — most parents stop after 3 to 5.
What to try tonight →How many meals should a 10-month-old eat?
Three meals and two to three snacks a day, with breast milk or formula feeds in between, per the CDC and AAP.
See a sample day →How much protein should a toddler get at breakfast?
Toddlers need about 13 g of protein a day, so 5–8 g at breakfast covers about half — a ⅓ cup of Greek yogurt alone has about 7 g.
12 egg-free ideas →What helps a constipated baby on solids?
The AAP suggests high-fiber baby foods such as pears, prunes, peaches, plums, apricots, peas and beans twice a day.
Foods that help →Is it normal for a baby to refuse solids?
Often, yes. Milk is still the main food before 12 months, and it can take 8 to 10 tries before a baby accepts a new food.
What to try →How much calcium does a 9- to 13-year-old need?
For ages 9 to 18, per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — up from 1,000 mg at ages 4 to 8.
Calcium without a glass of milk →Can a 12-year-old drink energy drinks?
The AAP says energy drinks should never be consumed by children or teens. Many cans have 2 to 3 times the 100 mg daily caffeine ceiling AACAP suggests for teens.
Caffeine by age and by can →How much protein does a 12-year-old need?
Children aged 9 to 13 need about 34 g of protein a day, per the U.S. Dietary Reference Intakes — easily met from food for most kids.
Do they need a shake? →Can toddlers drink Gatorade?
The AAP advises against sports drinks for young children. For vomiting or diarrhea, use an oral rehydration solution instead.
What to give a sick toddler →What should go in a toddler's daycare lunch?
A protein, a grain, a fruit and a vegetable — the components USDA requires in child-care lunches, alongside milk.
12 cold lunch combos →How much fiber does a constipated toddler need?
Start with the AAP's 'age + 5' floor — about 7 g at age 2 — and build toward about 14 g a day from fruit, vegetables, beans and whole grains.
Foods that help →How many calories should a 10-year-old eat?
Depending on sex and activity, per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 estimates. Not a number to count.
Estimates by age, sex and activity →How many snacks should a toddler have a day?
The AAP describes 3 meals and 2 snacks a day for 1-year-olds, and 1–2 snacks from age 2. The CDC allows 2–3 for children up to 24 months.
See a sample schedule →How much fiber does a toddler need?
For ages 2 to 3, per the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans — between the "age + 5" floor and the 19 g National Academies figure.
Why the numbers differ →How much protein does a 10-year-old need?
For boys and girls aged 9 to 13, per the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances in the Dietary Guidelines.
What 34 grams looks like →How much protein does a baby need?
For babies aged 7 to 12 months, per the U.S. National Academies — much of it from breast milk or formula.
See first protein foods →How much should a 1-year-old eat?
About 1,000 calories across 3 meals and 2 snacks, per the AAP — not the same amount every day.
See a sample day →How much solid food should an 8-month-old eat?
At each of 3 meals from about 8 months, per the AAP's sample menu — with breast milk or formula still the main food.
See amounts month by month →How much added sugar can a toddler have?
None before age 2, then under 25 g (about 6 teaspoons) a day, per the AAP and American Heart Association.
Sugar limits and label tips →How much iron does a baby need?
For babies aged 7 to 12 months, per the U.S. National Academies — more than a toddler needs.
See iron-rich baby foods →Is toddler formula necessary?
The AAP says toddler formulas offer no advantage over cow's milk and a varied diet for most children over 12 months.
Toddler formula vs whole milk →When are toddlers tested for iron deficiency?
The AAP's 2026 guidance screens every child once in this window, with a blood count and ferritin, timed by how they were fed.
Signs and testing →What is a toddler portion size?
About 1 oz of meat, ¼ cup of cooked vegetables and ½ slice of bread for ages 1 to 3, per the AAP.
See the full chart →How much iron does a toddler need if they won't eat meat?
Ages 1 to 3 need 7 mg a day. The NIH notes people who eat no meat may need almost twice as much, because plant iron is absorbed less well.
Iron and zinc without meat →Do breastfed babies need vitamin D drops?
For breastfed and partly breastfed babies from soon after birth, per the AAP. Ask your pediatrician which product.
Who needs drops, and for how long →What should a 2-year-old eat in a day?
Three meals and 1–2 snacks with about 1 cup each of fruit and vegetables and 2 cups of dairy, per the AAP.
See the sample menu →When should a young athlete eat before a game?
A small meal of mostly carbs with some protein, low in fat and fiber, 3 to 4 hours before exercise, per the AAP — plus water before and during.
Game-day eating plan →When should I introduce peanut to my baby?
Around 6 months, with other solids, for most babies. If your baby has severe eczema or an egg allergy, talk to your pediatrician first — as early as 4 to 6 months.
Is my baby high-risk? →